35/123 She pointed to the bed and motioned him to return there. He obeyed with a shrinking heart. No words were spoken until they were again close to the children; then the mother said, in a calm, cold, stern voice-- "You murmured at the blessings God gave us, and he is withdrawing them one by one. When these are gone, it will not cost us over five hundred dollars to live, and then you can save five hundred a year. Kate and Mary and Harry, dear, dear, dear ones! not for millions of dollars would I part with you!" A wild cry broke from the lips of the agonized mother, and she fell forward upon the bed, with a frantic gesture. |